Heel-breasting machine



Feb.. 9, 1943. y a T, EVEQ- UE '2,310,301 HEEL BREASTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet ILl xllillllllnxlllllll. l i l I Ll L ru il lmwh... ...QU

Feb. 9, 1943. a. T. LEVEQUE HEEL BREASTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, i943.

A B. T.\ LEVEQUE HEELBREASTING MACHINE A 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 16,' 1941 Feb. 9, 1943. a, T. LEVEQUE HEEL BREASTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /hcreased\ Vamp Press,

Patenied Feb. 9, 1943 HEEL-BREASTING MACHINE Bernard 'i'. Leveque, Wenham, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 16, 1941, Serial No. 388,783

47 Claims.

This invention relates to shoey machines andv particularly to machines for breasting attached heels.' e

This operation is now accomplished by means of a knife which cuts from the tread surface of the heel to theattaching face at the breast line on the shank of the shoe, and for the full width of the heel, to form the breast surface by a single stroke. Due to the width of the cut and the amount of substance through which the knife must pass in making its cut, the heel, as well as the materials forming the bottom of the shoe, are subjected to extremely high pressures which frequently cause distortion of the heel and/or shoe bottom and which have a more or less damaging effect on the shoe in general. When, asis usually the case, the heel is made up of a plurality of lifts of leather, or similar compressible material, the lifts areindividually compressed by the knife, as it passes through the heel, and, as the compressing force is relieved after the breasting cut has been completed, spring back to form a plurality of ribs, or ridges, on the breast surface which must be removed by abrading, or otherwise, to obtain the smooth breast surface required by the trade.

The compression of the materials forming the bottom of the shoe by the knife introduces another serious problem in heel breasting since, as the compressing force is immediately relieved when the knife has passed through the heel at the bottom of its stroke, these materials tend to spring back and press the shank surface against the sharp edge of the knife, or, the resistance on the knife being relieved, the knife may overtravel and cut into the shank surface. The resulting marking of, or even slight cutting into,` the shank surface of the shoes, is Very detrimental to their quality and value.

In machines of this type, the breast surface, which is usualiy substantially straight heightwise and concave lengthwise of the shoe, is shaped by the knife itself, thus requiring a different 'knife for each change in lengthwise curvature of the heel breast, and the cutting edge of the knife must be shaped by grinding so as to conform, at least substantially, to the contour of the shank at the breast line of the particular type of shoes being handled. Accordingly, where a great variety of heel breasts on shoes of different types are to be cut, numerous breasting knives must be available and considerable time spent in grinding and fitting their cutting edges to different Shanks.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved heel-breasting machine which is capable of cutting substantially smooth breast surfaces of various lengthwise curvatures on the heels of shoes of all types in an efcient and satisfactory manner and without distortion of, or damage to, the shoe parts or the use of a plurality of different and separately fitted breasting knives. To this end, there is provided, as an important feature of this invention, a novel heelbrea-sting tool which cuts heightwise of an attached heel and progressively, with a series of light cuts, across the heel from one side of the heel to the other, together with means for sup-1 porting and moving a shoe continuously to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel.' More specifically, the tool is chisel-like in form and is rapidly reciprocated to remove only a light chip at each stroke, as the heel is moved slowly past the tool, thus avoiding any'possibility of distortion of the heel or of the materials forming the bottom of theshoe and insuring a smooth breast surface.'

In accordance with further features of the'invention, means are provided for shifting the tool lengthwise of the heel during the breasting action to cause the tool to cut abreast surface that is curved in a lengthwise direction and also for shifting the stroke of the tool so that it terminates, in one direction, always at-the line of demarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the lower surface of the shank at the breast line. More particularly, the lengthwise shifting of the tool is accomplished by means which are readily replaceable for producing different breast surface curvatures with the same tool, while the shifting of the stroke of the tool is effected by a -shank-engaging element so that all types of shank contours are readily accommodated. Also, to avoid possible binding of the tool on the continuously moving heel, a still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for moving the tool laterally of its stroke and widthwise of the heel to follow the heel during the breasting operation.

With the View of expediting the breasting of heels with thev above-mentioned novel breasting tool, further features of the invention include the provision, in my improved machine, of a pluralityof novel shoe-supporting devices each arranged,"preferably-cn a revolvable turret, for movement quickly from a loading position, conveniently located at a point remote from the tool,

to a working position adjacent to the toolthen ing device with theresult that the tool is not long idle vand the handling of` shoes proceeds continuously at the will of the operator. Preferably, the novel supporting devices are arranged to rotate on the turret so that the shoe can be loaded heel-end away from the operator and presented to the tool in the same orientation. More specically, the novel shoe-supporting devices comprise improved jack constructions having forepart supporting means, yieldable to permit leveling of the shoes, a last-supporting member, and a cooperating heel-clamping member, the latter being manually operable initially to clamp the heel end of the shoe. and simultaneously to lock the forepart-supporting means. Means are also provided on the improved machine, in accordance with this feature of the invention, for applying additional pressure to the clamping member, just prior to the heel-breasting operation, for stabilizing the jacks during the breasting operation, and for automatically releasing the shoe after completion of the breasting operation, the whole arrangement being such that shoes are easily loaded into and removed from the machine and are firmly supported during the action of the tool on their heels.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, also in side elevation but at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the head of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with part of the casing in section to disclose the mechanism therein contained;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the head of the machine with the casing cover broken away to expose the enclosed mechanism and showing the upper parts of one ofthe shoe-supporting jacks of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a heel-clamping assembly forming a part of each shoe-supporting jack;

Fig. 5 is a timing chart showing the movements of the shoe-supporting jacks and the turret speeds during the operation of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of movement of the tool during a single reciprocation thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the machine showing cam devices associated with the heel-clamping assemblies.

Referring to Fig. 1, the illustrated machine has a base I0 on which is mounted an upwardly extending standard I2 carrying at its top an overhanging head I4. A circular turret I6 is rotatably mounted in iront of the standard, and beneath the head, on a post I1 rising from the base. Supported at diametrically opposite points on the turret are two shoe-supporting devices, each comprising an upright I8 having an enlarged supporting flange 20 at its lower end, and a downwardly projecting shaft portion 22, journaled in a bearing boss 2I, forming part of the turret. Associated with each of these uprights is a jack post 24 having an upper adjustable portion 25 carrying a last pin 26, a heel-clamping assembly 28, forepart-supporting pads 3D, and a clamping handle 32. These supporting devices will be described in detail below, and, in Fig. Lone is shown supporting a shoe for breasting ,of its heel, while the other is empty and in its loading position. A bevel-ring-gear 34 is secured to the lower side of the turret and meshes with a pinion 36 on a power shaft 31. At their lower ends the shafts 22 are provided with cam arms 38, 38,

each of which has a cam roll 39 cooperating with a face cam 40 secured to the base I0.

During the operation of the machine, the tui'- ret is revolved about the post I'I at different speeds, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, i. e., at a slow speed while each jack is in loading or breasting position, and at a higher speed while the jacks are traveling between these positions. As the turret revolves, the shoesupporting jacks are rotated on the turret, rst a half-turn in one direction and then back to their original positions; these rotational movements being effected by the cam d acting through the arms 38, 38, and occurring during a major part of the two high-speed turret revolution intervals, as shown in Fig. 5. The supporting jacks, and hence the shoes carried thereby, are held against rotation likewise by means of the cam 40 and the cam arms 38, 38, during each slow-speed turret revolution interval, and for a part of each high-speed turret revolution interval, while the breasting cutis being made and the loading operation performed, see Fig. 5. In the illustrated machine the shoe-supporting devices are so held in rest positions during turret movements of about sixty degrees, and the breasting and loading operations are performed during movements of the turret of about forty degrees. These values have been arbitrarily selected, for purposes of illustration, and may be varied to suit different conditions by changing the shape of cam 40. This makes it possible to load the shoes conveniently, heelend away from the operator, on one side of the revolving turret, and to present them to the breasting knife, at the other side, in the same orientation.

The breasting operation is performed by means of a reciprocating chisel-like knife 42, Figs. l, 2 and 3, operated by mechanism to be described in detail below, which cuts heightwise, from the tread surface to the attaching face at the breast line, progressively across the heel H of a shoe S, on one of the jacks, as the turret revolves slowly, and while the jack is held in xed relation to the turret. At the completion of the slowspeed interval, the turret revolves quickly through the succeeding high-speed interval to present the heel of a shoe on the other jack to the knife and to return the rst jack to loading position. In order that the edge of the attaching face may conform exactly to the lateral curvature of the shank portion Sh of the shoe, at the breast line, the depth of the knife stroke is varied, during the progress ci the heel by the knife, by a roller 44, operating through associated mechanism, which traverses the shank just in front of the knife, Figs. l, 2 and 3. The arrangement is such that the lowermost point of each knife stroke coincides with the juncture of the heel and shank at that particular point on thc breast line widthwise of the shoe.

A5 the breasting operation proceeds, the posi tion of the knife lengthwise of the shoe is changed by a control means comprising a roll 5I (Fig. 2) engaging a cam path provided in a heel-clamping plate 5G, forming part of the heel-clamping assembly 28. The shape of the cam path determines the curvature of the heel breast, and plates having differently shaped cam paths are provided `for a wide selection of breast surface curvatures. Since the heel moves continuously during the breasting operation, the knife is shifted laterally during its cutting and return strokes at a rate corresponding to the feeding movement and is quickly returned to its original position just prior to the next succeeding cutting stroke, by mechanism to be described. The knife is reclprocated at a very high rate of speed so that adjacent cuts are very closely spaced and a substantially smooth breast surface produced. Because of the lightness of the chip removed by the knife there is little or no distortion of the heel substance or of the shoe bottom by the action of the knife, and the shank-engaging roller 44 with its associated mechanism insures a full cutting-through of the heel to the shank along the entire breast line without any possibility of overtravel of the knife which might mar or damage the shank.

The high and low speed turret rotations are obtained by selectively rotating the shaft 31 at two speeds. A motor 60, supported in the base I0, drives a main shaft 66, provided also with a hand wheel 68, through a belt 52 and a pulley 64. Shafts and 82, journaled in the standard |2, are in turn driven from the shaft |56 by belts 10, 12 and pulleys 1|, 13, 14 and 16. A cone clutch 86 is associated with the shaft 80 for connecting this shaft to a gear 94 which forms a part of a reducing gear train comprising this gear and gears |06, |02 and S6, and a similar type of cone clutch SB is associated with shaft 82 for connecting this shaft directly to the power shaft 31. The gear 96 is connected to the power shaft 31 by means of an overrunning clutch 98. Pivoted to the standard I2 is a clutch-operating lever 9D associated with each of the clutches 86 and 88 in the manner shown. A spring 92 is arranged to urge the clutch 86 toward engaged position and to disengage clutch 88, through lever 90, and a control rod |04 is slidably mounted in the standard for engagement with the lever 00.

In Fig. 1 the parts are shown in position for obtaining a slow-speed drive of shaft 31 through the belt 12, shaft 00, clutch 85, reducing gear train 04, |00, |02 and 96 and the overrunning clutch 98. When the rod |04 is shifted slightly to the right the clutch 86 will be disengaged before the clutch 88 is engaged, and a neutral position is obtained in which no power is transmitted to the shaft 31.' On movement of the rod |04 further to the right the clutch 88 will be engaged and the high-speed turret drive obtained through the belt 10, shaft S2, clutch 88 and shaft 31, the overrunning clutch 98 nOwpermitting the shaft 31 to turn without rotating the gear 96 of the reducing train.

In the illustrated machine the power drive is held in slow-speed position positively during the two slow-speed intervals of the turret at the end of which the rod |04 is automatically moved to neutral position. The high-speed drive for revolving the turret to move the shoe-supporting devices between loading and working position is then obtained by the operator. This is accomplished by means of a foot treadle |24; operating through a linkage arrangement including a rod |22, bell-crank lever |20, rod H8 and lever H5: to move a lever arm |06 to the right and shift the rod |04 to engage clutch 88. Connected to the arm |06, which is integrally formed with the lever ||6, is a roll |08 which rides on a cam track IIU formed on the upper surface ofthe gear 34. This cam track has two oppositely positioned throws I2, and when the roll is in either of these throws the rod |04 assumes its extreme left-hand position (Fig. 1) and slow-speed drive is obtained. Keeper plates H4, H4, flared at their leading edges II5, prevent displacement of the roll away from the cam throws ||2 by inadvertent treadle movement during this period. When the turret is turned sufficiently to bring the roll up on either of the long dwells of the cam ||0 the rod |04 is shifted to the neutral position and the turret stops unless the treadle is depressed for the high-speed drive. At the end of each high-speed drive interval the flared leading edge I5 of the next keeper plate will engage the roll |03 and move it down into the throw ||2 whereupon slow-speed turret drive is again resumed. A spring IIS, which is interposed between the rod IIB and the bell-crank lever |20, permits this movement to be effected, although the operator may still hold the treadle .|24 down. Accordingly, so long as the treadle is depressed, the machine will continuously operate through its recurrent cycles of high and low-speed turret rotation, see Fig. 5 but will automatically stop at the end of each slow 'speed interval, if the treadle is then released.

The shoe-supporting devices, or jacks, carried by the turret, are identical in construction and one of these will now be described in detail with particular reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Each jack post is supported on a rockshaft |30, journaled in the lower part of its upright I8, and has an outwardly projecting foot |32 which limits outward swinging movement of the jack post by l engagement with a raised boss |3| formed on the flange 20, see Fig. l. Keyed to a projecting end of the rockshaft is an arm |34 which is connected to a second arm |38, pivoted to the upright, at a point considerably above the flange 20, by means of a rod |36. The arm |38 forms one link of a toggle having a second link |40 connected at its outer end to a downwardly extending bar |42. The elements |34, |36, |38, |40 and |42 are duplicated on the opposite side of the upright |8, which is lof hollow open-sided construction and provided at its upper end with forwardly projecting ears |46, |46 terminating in bosses |41, |41, see Figs. 1 and 4.

The last pin 26 is carried by the upper portion of the jack post, which is adjustable vertically by means of a threaded adjusting sleeve |44 and is held in adjusted position by means of a clamp nut |45. To avoid confusion, the last pin and upper portion of element 25 has been omitted from Fig. 4, its position between the ears |46, |46 being readily apparent in Figs. 1 and 3. The bars |42, |42 are journaled on studs |48, |48, secured in the bosses |41, |41, and above these studs the bars are each enlarged to form supporting brackets |50, |50, extending upwardly and inwardly over the ears |46, Fig. 4.

'Ihe forepart-supporting pads 30, 30 are carried on hollow rods |52, |52 clamped in split bearing portions of the brackets |50, |50 by screws |5I. A cross piece |60, Figs. 1 and 3, is adjustably mounted on the rods |52, |52 by means of split bearing portions |62, |62, provided with clamping screws |64, |64, and is formed with vertical guide bearings |66, |66. Slidable in these guide bearings are vertically extending rods |10, |10. These rods, which are supported vertically against stop collars |1|, I1 I, Fig. 1, by relatively light springs |12, |12, carry at their upper ends the forepart-supporting pads 30, that are formed as the outer ends of inwardly extending arms |13, |13 adjustably mounted in bifurcated end portions of these rods. When the jack post is swung forward the toggles |38, are broken and the parts assume the positions shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, with the rods |52, |52 tipped down/and the forepart-supporting pads 30, 30 held yieldingly in their uppermost positions by the springs |12, |12. As a shoe is placed on the last pin 20, which extends from a block |14, mounted for universal movement on a ball 15, Fig. 3, its forepart will rest on the pads 30, 30, By raising the outer ends of the rods |52, |52 the jack post and last pin will be moved inwardly to the position shown at the right, Fig. l, thus bringing the heel H of the shoe beneath the heel-clamping plate 50. Before operating the heel-clamping plate, to clamp the shoe on the jack post, the shoe may be leveled to bring the tread surface of forepart and heel into the same horizontal plane, by depressing its forepart, the springs |12,

|12 permitting this leveling action.

Extending through apertures |15, |16 which open into the guide bearings |66, |66, are friction binding rods |54, |54. These rods are provided with flattened faces |80, |80 which slidably engage the rods |10, and at their inner ends are journaled in the brackets |50, |50. In moving the heel-clamping plate against the heel, after the shoe has been suitably leveled, the rods I 54, |54 are turned, by mechanism about to be described, so that their flattened faces bind against the rods |10, |10, thus locking the latter rods firmly in position to support the forepart of the shoe. The turning of the rods |54, |54 is effected through arms |82, |82, Fig. 4, adjustably mounted on the inner end of these rods by means of clamping screws |04, |84.

Slidably mounted in spaced lower and upper guide bearings |85, |80 and |90, |90, formed in the upper end of the upright I8, are vertically extending rods |88, |88, A crossbar |92 is clamped to these rods at each of its ends by clamping portions |94, Fig. 4, and is provided with a rib |96 having rack teeth |38. Adjacent to the upper guide bearings the upright I8 has rearwardly extending ears 200, 200 in which is journaled a cross shaft 202. The cross shaft is held against axial movement by the hub portions of two cranks 204, 205 secured to its opposite ends; the hub of the last-mentioned crank bearing against a hub portion 20| of the clamping handle 32 which is secured to a sleeve 203, rotatably mounted on the shaft. Pinned to the mid-portion of the cross shaft is a pinion 2I0 meshing with the rack teeth |98, and fixed to the sleeve 203. On the opposite side of the ear 200 from the hub 20| is a hub portion 205 provided with an upwardly extending arm 212 and a rearwardly extending arm 2I8. A pawl 2|4, having an operating arm 201, is pivoted to the upper end of the arm 2I2 and is held yieldingly in engagement with teeth on a ratchet wheel 2| I, formed integrally with the pinion, by a spring 2| 8. Journaled on the outer end of the `rearwardly extending arm 2|8 is a cam roller 220. A spring-actuated detent 222, supported on the upright I8, is arranged to engage the teeth of' the ratchet wheel 2I| and normally to hold the pinion 2I0 against rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4.

The cranks 204, 205 are each connected by straps 224, 224 to rocker arms 226, 226, pivoted on the ears |40, |40 adjacent to the brackets |50, |50 and provided with cam surfaces 228, 220. These cam surfaces cooperate with surfaces 230, 230 on the arms |82, |82, secured to the binding rods |54, |54, so that these rods are turned to binding position against the rods |10, |10, when the cranks 202, 204 are turned in a counterclockwise direction, and are shaped, with a rise and a dwell, so that they first swing the arms |82, |82 upwardly and, on further turning movement of the cranks, hold the arms in binding position.

The heel-clamping assembly, designated generally -by the reference character 28, Fig. 4, includes a cross plate 236 slidably mounted on the rods |88, |88 and yieldingly supported by means of light coil springs 234, 234 surrounding these rods and resting on the upper ends of the guide bearings |90, |90 of the upright I8. Above the cross plate are relatively heavy coil springs 238, 238 .bearing against ladjustable stop collars 240, 240, on the uppermost ends of these rods. Se- Cured to the cross plate is the heel-clamping plate 50 which comprises a rearwardly extending base 242 having a tongue 240 ntting into a corresponding groove in the plate 235, see Fig. 2, and provided with an adjusting slot 244 for receiving a locking screw 250. At its forward end the heel-.clamping plate is thickened and formed with an arcuate cam groove 258 having flared ends 260, 260.

The adjustable portion 25 of each jack post is set for the particular height of heel being worked upon so that the lower surface of the thickened forward end of the heel-clamping plate just clears the toplift of the heel of a shoe placed in the heel-supporting device when the jack post is swung into the position shown on the right in Fig. 1. After a shoe has been placed in the supporting device and the jack post moved into this position, the operator levels the forepart of the shoe, the springs |12, |12 permitting appropriate movement of the shoe-supporting pads 30, 30. Now, while holding the shoe leveled, he pulls the handle 32 toward him, until it strikes a stop pin 2I3 on the upright I8, see dotted line position of the handle in Fig. 1. Since the handle is connected to the pawl-carrying arm 2I2, through the sleeve 203, this effects a partial rotation of the ratchet wheel 2II and the ypinion 2I0, and also of the shaft 202, in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 4, against the action of a .coil spring 232, secured at one end to one of the ears 200 and at the other to a hub 233 on the gear 2| 9. This rotation of the gear 2| 0, operating through the rack |98, depresses the rods I 88, |88 and forces the heel-clamping plate against the top lift of the heel, through the action of the strong springs 233, 238, to clamp the lasted shoe initially between the clamping plate and last-pin block |14. The rotation of the shaft 202 turns the cranks 294, 206 and causes cam surfaces 228, 228 to turn the binding rods I 54, |54 to .binding position against the rods |10, |10, thus locking the forepart-supporting pads 30, 30 in the positions they assumed during the leveling of the shoe. A spring 2I5 returns the handle 32, arm 2|2 and pawl 2I4 to their original positions, determined by a stop pin 2I1 on upright i8 (Fig. 4) while the spring-actuated detent 222 engages the teeth of the pinion 2I0 to hold the parts in shoe-clamping and shoe-supporting position.

The loading of a shoe takes place during a slowspeed loading period of turret movement and while the jack is held against rotation with respect to the turret, see Fig. 5. The next period of turret movement, which occurs at a high speed, brings the shoe beneath the head I4, a half-turn of the jack with respect to the turret having been effected to maintain the proper orientation of the shoe, whereupon slow-speed turret revolution is again resumed and the breasting operation performed as the heel is fed slowly past the breasting knife 42 during this breasting period of turret revolution.

While the heel is being breasted the jack is stabilized (Fig. 1), -by means of an extended rib 212 on the upright I8 which is arranged to t nicely in a groove 218 formed by a shouldered block 21| secured to the front face of the standard I2 and the bottom face of a horizontal cam plate 214 secured to the Iblock beneath a vertical cam plate 215. The cam plate 214 is formed with a lug 280, Figs. 1 and '1, arranged to trip the detent 222, after the 'breasting period of turret movement has been fully completed, thus releasing the ratchet wheel 2|| and the pinion 2|0 to allow the springs 232, 234 to return the shoe-clamping and shoe-supporting parts to their original positions thereby releasing the shoe for removal from the jack.

'I'he cam plate 215 comprises a rise 216, a dwell 218, and a vertical drop 219 on the opposite side from the dwell, see Figs. 1, 3 and 1. This rise is arrangedV to engage the roll 220, which is carried on the outer end of the arm 2I8, see Fig. 4, as the turret rotates to present the heel to the knife, and to effect a second turning of the pinion 2|0, and a consequent increase in the clamping pressure applied to the heel, during the period of action of the knife 42 on the heel, see Fig. 5. As the roll 228 passes 01T the dwell 218 the handle 32 and pawl-carrying arm 2| 2 are returned to their original positions by the spring 2 5, While the detent 222 holds the parts in clamping position during the remainder of the breasting operation.

After the breasting operation has been completed the detent 222 is tripped by the lug 280 on cam plate 214, see Fig. 7, and, while the detent is held in tripped position, an overhanging cam nger 282, Figs. 3 and 7, engages the operating arm 201 of the pawl 2|4 and moves lthe pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 2II. Spring 232 now returns the shaft to its original position, such movement being limited by the engagement of the rocker arms 228, 223 with stop pins 284, 284, and at the same time springs 234, 234 elevate the plate 50 away from the heel.

As the shoe is thus released, after the turret moves through this breasting period, the operator, having in the meantime loaded a shoe into the other jack, depresses the treadle for high-speed turret revolution, at the end of Which he removes the shoe which had just been released. Accordingly, loading of the shoe takes place while the heel breasting of a previously loaded shoe is effected, and, as the turret turns rapidly to present a loaded shoe to the breasting knife, there is no delay in the opera-tion and the work proceeds continuously but with ample time afforded for loading, leveling of a loaded shoe, and shoe removal after breasting. The arcuate extent of each of the cam throwsl I 2, I I2 is such that the slow-speed breasting period begins somewhat before the widest heel would reach the breasting knife and continues after such a heel has passed beyond the knife, the periods of jack rest being considerably longer than the slow-speed breasting or loading periods, as shown in Fig. 5.

The knife-operating and controlling mechanism is contained within the head lcasing I4 which is provided with spaced main bearings 302, 304, Figs. 1 and 2, for the drive shaft 88. The head casing is enlarged to form a chamber 388, closed by a cover 3|0, which receives a crank disk 303, carried by the drive shaft. The breasting knife 42, which is relatively narrow and chisel-like in form, is removably secured in the lower end of a knife slide 3|2 by a set screw 3| I. This slide, which is flush with the working side of the knife, see Fig. 2, passes up into the chamber 308 through an enlarged opening 3|4 in a boss 389 and is slidably mounted in a frame 3|3. A splash cover 3|5 rests on the boss 309, being held thereon by spring 3|3, and the slide SI2 passes Ithrough this cover, as shown. The frame 3|6 is pivoted on a stud 3|8 secured to an upwardly extended portion 328 of a bracket member 322 which is supported for forward and backward sliding movement on studs 324 and 326, secured in the head casing by set screws 325 and 321. The knife slide is thus mounted for three kinds of movement, i. e., vertical reciprocating movement in the frame 3|'6, sidewise swinging movement with the frame on the stud 3|8, and forward and backward sliding movement with the frame on the studs 324 and 326.

The vertical reciprocating movement, which produces the cutting action of the knife, is effected by a crank and linkage mechanism driven from the crank disk 30B on the main shaft 88, see Figs. 2 and 3. A connecting rod 338 journaled on a crank pin 329, secured to Ithe crank disk, is connected by a pivot pin 33| to a link 332. The link 332 is pivoted on a stud 334 carried by a supporting bracket 333 secured to a rod 338. The stud 334 is extended rearwardly beyond the link 332 where it is of reduced size to receive a block 331, Fig. 2, slidably mounted in a guide groove 339 formed in the casing head I4. In this manner, turning of the bracket and rod 338 by forces applied thereto during the operation of the machine is prevented. The rod 338 is mounted in guide bearings 348 and 342 provided on the casing head I4, and on its lower end, which extends below and outside of the casing, is adjustably mounted an angular arm 348 carrying the shank-engaging roller 44. The .arm 348 is enlarged to form a sleeve 358, which is slidably mounted on the rod 338, and journaled in this sleeve in a pin 382. The pin 382 extends through an elongated slot 386 in the rod and, at its central portion, has an eccentric 384, Fig. 3. An operating handle 388 is secured to the outer ends of the pin, and the arrangement is such that movement of the handle effects an adjustment of the roll 44 with respect to the rod 338. A spring-pressed pawl 390, engaging locking teeth 392, formed on an extending web of the sleeve, is provided for locking the parts in adjusted position. The locking effect of the teeth is sucient to hold the roll fixed, due to its mechanical advantage over the small throw of the eccentric 384, while, at the same time, offering but slight resistance to manual movement of handle 388.

This rod also passes through an intermediate guide bearing and spring abutment 344, formed on an upwardly extending support 346 bolted to the bottom wall of the casing. A relatively ystrong compression spring 352, arranged between the lower face 358 of the guide bearing and spring abutment 344 and a collar 354 on the rod, urges the rod downwardly. When a shoe is in the machine and passing by the breasting knife 42, the roller 44 engages the shank of the shoe and elevates the rod against the action of the spring 352, thus determining the vertical position of -the rod 338. A stop collar 339, adjustably secured to the upper end of the rod 338,

Fig. 2, is provided for limiting the downward movement of the rod when the roller passes off the shank portion of the shoe.

A second link 333 is secured at one end to the pivot pin SSI and journaled at its other end on a stud 352 mounted in the end of a swinging arm 33d having an enlarged hub portion 355 journaled on a stud 361, Figs. 2 and 3. The stud 362 has a spherical head 368 on which is mounted for universal movement a strap 315]. This strap is universally connected by means of a spherically headed stud 372 to a projecting bracket 3M clamped to the knife slide BIZ by a clamping screw 373. The links 332 and 363 form a toggle linkage which is lengthened and shortened by the connecting rod 330 as the crank disk is rotated. The upper end of this linkage, at stud 33d, is fixed by the position of roller 46 and the action of the spring 352, while its lower end, at the stud 352, moves up and down as the linkage is shortened and lengthened, thereby swinging the arm 363 and imparting a reciprocating movement to the knife slide 3l2 which is connected thereto by strap 370. 'I'he linkage and crank throw are arranged so that the knife is elevated somewhat above the lower surface of the heel-clamping plate 50 and the tread surface of the top lift of the heel H at the uppermost end of its stroke, see Fig. 3, and so that it travels just slightly below the shank-engaging roller 44 on its down stroke.

As the heel moves past the reciprocating knife, the roller M rides over the curved shank portion Sh of the shoe S, Figs. 2 and 3, in front of the knife, and constantly changes the Vertical position of the stud 334. Accordingly, the locus of the lower-most knife positions forms a curve which is complemental to, and coincident with, that of the shank. By suitably adjusting the relative vertical position of this curve, with respect to the path of the roll 44, this being accomplished by manipulation of the handle 388, the knife can be made to cut completely through the heel to the shank, but without entering the shank, at each stroke thereof, regardless of slight differences in the elevation o-f the shank at the breast line and at the zone traversed by the roller. By changing the position of the stop collar 333 the lowermost position of the roller can be changed to accommodate a considerable range of heel heights, it being understood, of course, that the plane of the bottom surface of the shoe is determined by the heel-clamping plate while the roller 44, together with the knife-actuating linkage, is shifted up or down, as the height of the heel and vertical position of the shank varies with different shoes. Where the height of the heel falls beyond this range, crank discs having different throws, together with connecting rods of appropriate length, may be substituted for those shown to shorten or lengthen the knife stroke, and the brackets 336 and 374 adjusted to suitably position the stroke and roll i4 vertically with respect to the plate 53. Thus, this machine can be readily adapted to breast heels of any height, from the extremely high heel for ladies shoes shown to a low heel for a mans shoe.

Because of the relatively large diameter of the roller d, as compared to the width of the knife 42, the linkage mechanism formed by links 330 and 363 will be appropriately elevated by engagement of the roller with the shank portion of the shoe before the reciprocating knife could contact the upper of an approaching shoe. Similarly, at the opposite side of the shoe, the roller 44 will remain in engagement with the shank portion to hold the linkage mechanism elevated until the shoe has traveled well beyond the knife, thus avoiding contact of the knife with the upper. The stop collar 339 is adjusted so that the roller drops but slightly below the edge of the sha-nk, thus insuring proper camming action of the roller by the shank as the shoe moves tol pass the heel by the breasting knife. 'Ihe cutting force of the knife, which is slight due to the small chip removed on each stroke, is sustained by the spring 352, and, in this manner, a somewhat yielding cutting action is obtained which is conducive to superior results in the character of the breast surface produced and also is easier on the heel and the supporting bottom material of the shoe. The spring 352 is strong enough to hold the roller 44 against the shank of the shoe at all times during the breasting action of the knife, but without undue pressure thereon, and also to force the knife through the heel on each of its strokes.

The heel moves continuously during the operation of the breasting knife 42 thereon, and means are provided for causing the knife to follow the heel during its cutting and return strokes. Referring to Fig. 6, the direction of movement of the heel H is indicated by the arrow at the upper part of this figure, and the broken line C extending vertically through the center of the heel represents a cut made by the knife during a single reciprocation at its cornpletion and before the knife has returned. In the period of time it takes the knife to travel from the tread surface of the top lift down to the shank Sh and return, the heel moves to the left a short distance corresponding to the feeding increment per stroke. This is represented in Fig. 6, at an exaggerated scale, by the distance between points ac e. In actual practice, to obtain a relatively smooth breast surface, the speed of the knife, and the slow breasting speed of the turret, are so related that a feeding increment per stroke of between 12 and 11.; of an inch is produced when the knife is reciprocated at a very rapid rate suicient .to reduce the time required for breasting a heel to a fraction of a minute. With feeding increments of this magnitude the chisel-like knife, which has a somewhat rounded cutting edge, will produce a substantially smooth breast surface on a heel and one that requires little, if any, subsequent smoothing-up or scouring.

In order that the knife cut may extend vertically of the heel, and also to avoid binding of the knife during its return stroke, the path of the knife must be triangular, following the dotted lines from point :c to point y, to point e, and then returning to its original position before starting its next succeeding stroke. This kind of knife movement is obtained by swinging the frame 3IS, in which the knife slide 3I2 is carried,

about its pivot point equal distances from the vertical and in timed relation to the knife stroke, by the following mechanism. A strap 394 is connected at one end .to an ear 396, .extending downwardly from the lower part of the frame SIB, by means of a ball joint 398, and at its other end is similarly connected, by a ball joint 353, to an arm 430 which is secured to one end of a shaft 432 journaled in the casing head I4, Figs. 2 and 3. The other end of this shaft extends through `the rear wall of the casing head, Fig. 2, where it is provided with a second arm 434 carrying at its outer end 'a cam roller 406.' A face cam 408 is secured to the main shaft 66 by means of a pin 4H! and has a cam path 4I2 in which the roller 406 rides. The cam path 4I2 is formed so as to have a gradual rise 4I3 throughout the most of its extent and terminating in an abrupt drop 4I5, see Fig. 3.

The timing of the cam with respect to the actuation of the knife is such, and the arms 400 and 432 are so arranged, that ,the knife is caused to follow a triangular path, as indicated by the dotted lines on Fig. 6; starting its cut somewhat to the right of the vertical, swinging to `the left so that the cutting edge of the knife moves laterally at exactly the same rate as the heel during its stroke to produce a vertical cut, represented at its completion by the broken line C in Fig. 6; then continuing this swinging movement at the same rate during the return stroke of the knife on the opposite side from the vertical so that the knife follows its cut, which moves to the left to point e; and finally quickly swinging the knife to the right to return it to its original position, after it has passed beyond the top lift and before it starts its next succeeding stroke. It will be understood that in practice the actual displacement of the knife laterally on each side of its vertical position wcill be slight, e. g., 1/64 of an inch, when the feeding increment is gli of an inch, and that the angle of swing of the frame SI will be very small.

During the action of the knife 42, the heel is moved in an arcuate path of relatively large radius of curvature by virtue of the revolution of the turret and the fact that the jack, on which the shoe is mounted, is fixed with respect to the Aturret at this time. In order to produce concave breast surfaces of smaller radii of curvature, such as would be ordinarily required, the knife is shifted lengthwise of the heel as the heel is moved by the knife during the breasting operation. This shifting movement is effected by sliding the bracket member 322, which supports the knife-slide carrying frame SIB, backward and forward on its supporting studs 324 and 325 by the following mechanism. The cam roll 5i is mounted on the end of a pin 420 adjustably secured by a clamp screw 422 in the outer end of a lever 424, Figs. 2 and 3. The arm 424 is secured with capacity of angular adjustment, by means of a clamp screw 423, to a shaft 426 journaled in a bearing portion 428 formed on the casing head I4. This shaft extends upward into the lower part of the chamber 308 where it is provided with an integrally formed arm 43S. At its outer end the arm 430 is formed with a forked portion 432 which embraces a cylindrical extension 433 on the lower part of the bracket 322, see Fig. 2. Swinging movement of the lever `424 is thus effective to produce forward and backward shifting movement of the bracket member 322 and the knife-slide carrying frame 3m.

As the jack approaches the breasting knife, during movement of the turret at a slow-speed interval, the roller 5I is guided into the cam grooves 258 by the flared ends 260, 260, the side walls of hole 3M holding the roll roughly centered with respect to the flared ends, and thereafter, during the action of the knife to breast the heel, the position of the knife lengthwise of the heel will be governed by the position of the roller 5I which, in turn, is determined by the shape of the cam groove 258. Accordingly, by appropriately shapingthis cam groove, breast scribed, it will be necessary now `only to outline surfaces of any desired curvature may be produced. As previously explained, the groove 258 is formed in an enlarged portion of the heelclamping plate 59 which is readily replaceable by other clamping plates having cam grooves of different curvature. By loosening the clamp screw 250 the plate 50 is freed for adjustment to vary the position of the breast surface lengthwise of the heel.

The operation of the several mechanisms which comprise the illustrated machine having been explained above, as these mechanisms were debrieily the operation of the machine as a whole, This will be done by following the action of the machine which occurs during a single complete rotation of the turret I6. Referring to the lefthand jack, Fig. 1, .and assuming the turret to be just beginning its slow-speed "loading interval of revolution, with the motor t!! running to drive the turretand main shaft 66; the operator places a shoe in the jack, with its last thimble on the last pin 26 and with its forepart resting on the pads 30, 30, the adjustable portion 25 of the jack post having been previously set to accommodate the particular height of heel to be breasted. The rods |52, |52 are now lifted to swing the jack post rearwardly, thus bringing the heel of the shoe underneath the heel-clamping plate 523. After leveling the shoe, the operator grasps the handle 32 and pulls it toward him, initially clamping the heel beneath the heel-clamping plate and cone of the last on the last-pin block |14, see Fig. 2, and also locking the rods I'il), Il@ to hold the pads 30, 38 firmly in forepart-supporting position. The handle is now released, the pawl 222 holding the parts in shoe-clamping position, as explained above. These operations are quickly performed and while the turret completes its slow-speed loading interval of revolution with the jack held fixed thereon.

As the cam roller IGS moves up onto the dwell of cam IIB, the operator depresses the treadle I24 to initiate the high-speed interval of turret revolution, thus quickly transferring the jack to the right-hand position in Fig. 1, or he may have previously depressed the treadle, in which case the spring H9 moves the lever arm IIS to engage the high-speed clutch 88. When the turret reaches the slow-speed breasting interval a keeper plate I I4 will depress the roll IBB to disengage the clutch 88 and engage the lowspeed clutch 8E, whereupon the slow-speed turret speed is resumed. The heel H now approaches the rapidly reciprocating breasting knife 42, but before reaching it the following actions take place: the roller 5I enters the cam groove 258, thus taking control of the forward and backward position of the knife 42, and the roller 44 engages and rides up onto the shank Sh, to elevate the knife-actuating linkage and thus position the knife stroke vertically so that the 'knife cuts completely through the heel substance on each stroke, stopping exactly at the shank. Before the heel reaches the knife, the additional clamping pressure is applied by the cam'216 inthe manner explained above.

While the heel is being breasted the operator is free to load another shoe onto the empty jack, which will be in loading position and moving at a slow speed. After breasting of a heel is completed the revolution of the turret proceeds until the keeper plate I-I4 passes beyond the roller m3 allowing it to be'elevated onto the dwell of cam IIII. At this time,'if the other shoe has been loaded, as will usually be the case, the operator, unless he has been holding the treadle I24 down, depresses this treadle to initiate high-speed turret revolution quickly to transfer the shoe which has just been loaded to breasting position, and to return the jack carrying the shoe, the heel of which has just been breasted, to loading position where it may be readily removed, the shoeclamping and shoe-supporting means having been automatically released by the action of lug 280 and linger 282, as explained above.

The operation thus proceeds continuously as the operator loads and unloads the jacks as they pass by him at the front of the machine. When it is desired to cut breast surfaces of different curvature another heel-clamping plate 53, having an appropriately curved cam path, will be substituted, and the depth of the breasting cut can be varied by loosening the clampingscrew 25B and shifting the plate on the cross-plate 236. Also, as has already been pointed out, the stroke of the knife can be varied, and the vertical position of roller 44 changed, tol accommodate heels of different heights.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to out heightwise of an attached heel, and means for supporting and moving a shoe to feed its heel past the tool, while the tool is operating, progressively to breast the heel from side to side.

2. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool having a relatively narrow cutting edge arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line, and means for supporting and moving a shoe relatively to the tcol for feeding its heel past the tool, while it is operating, to cause the tool to breast the heel progressively, with a series of light cuts, from one side to the other.

3. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line, means for supporting a shoe, and means for effecting relative movement between said tool and said supporting means to feed the heel of the shoe past the tool, while it is operating, for causing the tool to breast the heel progressively, by means of a series of cuts, from one side to the other.

4. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to out heightwise of an attached heel, means for supporting and moving a shoe to feed its heel past the tool, while it is operating, for causing the tool to breast the heel progressively from one side to the other, and means for shifting said tool lengthwise of the heel during said breasting operation.

5. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to 'the other, means for supporting a shoe for widthwise movement relative to the tool for feeding its heel past the tool to breast the heel, and means for shifting the tool lengthwise of the heel during said widthwise movement to cause the tool to cut a breast surface which is curved lengthwise o1 the heel.

6. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the othenmeans for supporting a shoe for widthwise movement relative to the tool for feeding its heel past the tool to breast the heel, guide means for said tool, and means for moving said guide means to shift the tool lengthwise of the heel during said widthwise movement thereof to cause said tool to cut a breast surface which is curved lengthwise of the heel.

7. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and 'progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe relatively to the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, guide means for the tool, and means comprising a cam device movable with the shoe for moving said guide means to shift the tool lengthwise of the heel during said relative movement of the shoe for causing the tool to cut a breast surface which is curved lengthwise of the heel.

8. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe relatively to the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, guide means for the tool slidable laterally of the path of movement of the shoe, and means comprising a cam device movable with the shoe for sliding said guide means to shift the tool lengthwise of the heel during relative movement of the shoe for causing the tool to cut a breast surface which is curved lengthwise of the heel, said cam device being arranged for ready replacement by other cam devices adapted to cause the tool to cut breast surfaces of different curvatures.

9. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an atttached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, and means for shifting the stroke of the tool, as the heel moves by the tool, so that the stroke terminates always on a line between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank ai; the breast line.

l0. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe in a widthwise direction to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, and means engaging the shank of the shoe for shifting the stroke of the tool as the heel moves by the tool so that the stroke terminates, in one direction, always at the line ofdemarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the breast line.

11. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe widthwise in a plane normal to the direction of the stroke of the tool to feed the heel past the tool for breasting the heel, means for operating the tool including a linkage having a movable support, and means engaging the shank of the shoe for moving said linkage support to shift the stroke of the tool relatively to the plane of movement of the shoe, as the heel moves by the tool, so that the stroke terminates, in one direction, always at the line of demarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the breast line.

12. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged t-o cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe widthwise in a plane normal to the direction of the stroke of the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, operating means for the tool including a linkage and a movable support therefor, and means associated with said support and adapted to engage and follow the shank portion of the shoe for shifting the stroke of the tool relatively to the plane of movement of the shoe, as the heel moves by the tool, so that the stroke terminates, in one direction, always at the line of demarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the breast line.

1Q. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe widthwise in a plane normal to the direction of the stroke of the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, operating means for the tool including a linkage and a movable support therefor, and a roller associated with said support and adapted to engage and follow the shank portion of the shoe for shifting the stroke of the tool relatively to the plane of movement of the shoe, as the heel moves by the tool, so that the stroke terminates, in one direction, always at the line of demarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the -breast line.

14. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe widthwise in a plane normal to the direction of the stroke of the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, operating means for the tool including a linkage and a movable support therefor, a roller associated with said support and adapted to engage and follow the shank portion of the shoe for shifting the stroke of the tool relatively to the plane of movement of the shoe, as the heel moves past the tool, so that the stroke terminates, in one direction, always at the line of demarcation between the attaching face of the heel and the lower surface of the shank at the breast line, and means for adjusting said roller on said sup-porting member to vary the relative position of the tool stroke thereto to compensate for the slope of the shank from the point of engagement of said roller to the breast line.

15. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting and moving a shoe to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, said means being arranged continuously to move the heel past the tool, and means for shifting the tool laterally of its stroke to cause the tool to follow the moving heel during its cutting action thereon.

16. A lieel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for movement relative to the tool to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, said means being arranged continuously to feed the heel past the tool during the actionI of the tool thereon, and means for moving said tool laterally of its stroke and widthwise of the' heel whue it is in cuaing'engagement with th'i heel at the same rate as said feeding movement thereby to cause the tool to follow the moving heel and-avoid binding of the tool thereon.A

17. A heel-breasting machine comprisinga `re ciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means forV reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breat line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for continuous feeding movement of its heel past the tool to breast the heel, guide means for the tool comprising a pivotally mounted member arranged to swing the tool laterally of the direction of its'stroke, means for operating the tool, and means associated withsaid-operating means for swinging the guide' means to cause the tool to follow the continuously moving heel during its cutting vaction thereon.

19. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attach-- ing face at theV breast line and progressively across the heel from Vone side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for continuous feeding movement of its heel past the tool to breast the heel, guide means for the tool comprising a pivotally mounted member arranged to swing the tool laterally of the direction of its stroke, means 'for operating the tool, and means including a rotary cam associated with said operating means for swinging the guide means to cause the tool to follow the continuously moving heel *during its cutting action thereon.

20. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for movement of its heel past the Atool to breast the heel, means for shifting said 'tool lengthwise of the heel during the breasting operation to cause the tool to cut a breast surface that is curved lengthwise of the heel, and means for shifting the stroke of the tool, as the heel moves past the tool, so that the stroke terminates always on a line between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank'at the breast line.

21.` A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of the heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supportbreast the heel, said supporting means beingl arranged continuously to move the heel past the tool, means for shifting the tool lengthwise of the heel din'ing the breasting operation to cause the tool to cut a breast surface'that is curved lengthwise of the heel, and means for shifting the tool laterally of its stroke to cause the tool to follow the moving heel during its cutting action thereon.

22. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for widthwise movement relative to the tool for feeding its heel past the tool to breast the heel, said supporting means being arranged continuously to move the heel past the tool, guide means for the tool, means for moving the guide means to shift the tool lengthwise of the heel during the breasting operation for causing the tool to cut a breast surface that is curved lengthwise of the heel, and means for moving the guide means widthwise of the heel to shift the too1 laterally of its stroke for causing the tool to follow the moving heel during its cutting action thereon.

23. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for widthwise movement relative to the heel for feeding its heel past the tool to breast the heel, said supporting means being arranged continuously to move the heel past the too1, means for shifting the tool lengthwise of the heel during the breasting operation to cause the tool to cut a breast surface that is curved lengthwise of the heel, means for shifting the stroke of the tool, as the heel moves past the tool, so that the stroke terminates always on a line between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the breast line, and means for moving the tool widthwise of the shoe and' laterally of its stroke for causing the tool to follow the moving heel during its cutting action thereon.

24. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel from tread surface to attaching face at the breast line and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe for widthwise movement relative to the tool for feeding its heel past the tool to breast the heel, said means being arranged continuously to move the heel past the too1, guide means for the too1, means for shifting the stroke of the tool, as the heel moves past the tool, so that the stroke terminates always on a line between the attaching face of the heel and the surface of the shank at the breast line, means for moving the guide means to shift the tool lengthwise of the heel during the breasting operation for causing the tool to cut. a breats surface that is curved lengthwise of the heel, and means for moving the guide means widthwise of the heel to shift the tool laterally of its stroke for causing the tool to follow the moving heel during its cutting action thereon.

25. A heel-breasting machine comprising a tool I for cutting heightwise ofV an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, and shoe-supporting means for moving a the too1 for feeding its heel past vthe tool toshoe to feed its heel past the tool for breasting the heel, said means being arranged to move the shoe at a relatively rapid rate from a loading positon remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, then to move the shoe slowly to feed the heel past the too1 during the breasting operation, and iinally to return the shoe to the loading position at said rapid rate.

26. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool for cutting heightwise of an attached heel, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the tool, while it is operating, to cause the tool to breast the heels progressively from one side to the other, said supporting means comprising a revolvable turret with a plurality of shoe-supporting jacks thereon, and means for revolving the turret to transfer said jacks successively from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position beneath the tool.

27. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool for cutting heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the tool to breast the heels, said means comprising a revolvable turret having a plurality of shoe-supporting jacks thereon, and means under the control of an operator for revolving the turret at fast and slow speeds to transfer said jacks successively from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, and to move the jacks slowly as a heel is being fed past the tool.

23. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool for cutting heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to another, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the tools to breast the heels, said means comprising a revolvable turret having a plurality of shoe-supporting jacks thereon, and moans under the control of an operator for revolving the turret at fast and slow speeds quickly to transfer the jack successively from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, slowly to move the jacks in loading position to permit removal and loading of shoes and in working position to feed heels past the tool during breasting operations, and quickly to return the jacks to loading position.

29. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool for cutting heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the tool to breast the heels, said means comprising two shoe-supporting jacks arranged for movement from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent the tool, and means for quickly moving said jacks between said positions and for slowly moving said jacks when in said positions and during breasting and loading operations.

30. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reciprocating tool for cutting heightwise of an attached heel and progressively across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the too1 to breast the heels, said means comprising two supporting jacks arranged for movement in a circular path from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, and means for` successively moving each of said jacks quickly from loading position to working position, slowly through the working position, quickly from Working position to loading position, and slowly through the loading position.

3l. In a heel-breasting machine, a tool for breasting attached heels progressively from one side to the other, means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to feed their heels past the tool to breast the heels, said means comprising a revolvable turret having shoe-supporting jacks thereon, means for revolving the turret to transfer the jacks successively from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, and means associated with the turret for rotating the jacks on the turret as the turret revolves so that shoes on said jacks are maintained in the same orientation, with their heels toward the tool and their ioreparts toward the front of the machine, in both said loading and said working positions.

32. A heel-breasting machine comprising a reoiprocating breasting tool for breasting attached heels progressively from one side to the other and means for supporting lasted shoes for movement to present them to the tool, said means comprising a revolvable turret having shoe-supporting jacks thereon, means for revolving the turret to transfer the jacks successively from a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, and means associated with the turret for rotating the jacks on the turret as the turret revolves so that shoes'on said jacks are maintained in the same orientation, with their heel ends toward the tool and their foreparts toward the front of the machine, in both said loading and said working positions.

33. In a heel-breasting machine having a reciprocating breasting tool for breasting attached heels progressively from one side to the other and a revolvable turret, a jack on the turret for supporting a shoe for movement to feed its heel past the tool as the turret rotates, means for revolving the turret to transfer said jack between a loading position remote from the tool to a working position adjacent to the tool, and cam means associated with the turret and jack for rotating the jack as the turret, revolves so that a shoe may be loaded onto said jack when the jack is in loading position with its heel end away from the operator and presented to the tool in the same relative position on the jack.

34. In a heel-breasting machine having a tool for operating on an attached heel, a shoe-supporting jack for holding a lasted shoe during the action of the tool on its heel comprising a lastengaging abutment, a cooperating heel-clamping member, forepart-supporting means arranged yieldably to support the forepart of a lasted shoe while it is being leveled on the jack, and means for locking the forepart-supporting means when the heel-clamping member is operated to clamp the shoe in the jack.

35. In a shoe machine having a tool for operating on a shoe, a shoe-supporting jack comprising a last-engaging abutment, a cooperating heel-clamping member, forepart-supporting means arranged yieldably to support the forepart of a lasted shoe while it is being leveled on the jack, and means for locking the forepart-supporting means When the heel-clamping member is operated to clamp the shoe in the jack.

36. In a heel-breasting machine having a tool for operating on an attached heel, a shoe-supporting jack for holding a lasted shoe during the action of the tool on its heel, said jack comprising a last-engaging abutment for supporting the heel end of a lasted shoe, a heel-clamping member arranged for movement against the lift surface of the heel of a shoe supported on said abutment for clamping the shoe in the jack, forepart-supporting means yieldable to permit leveling of the shoe prior to the operation of the clamping member, locking means for said forepart-supporting means, and means for moving the clamping member into clamping engagement with the heel and for operating the locking means to clamp the shoe in the jack and to provide a rigid support for the forepart of the shoe.

37. In a shoe machine having a tool for operating on the heel of a shoe, a shoe-supporting jack comprising a last-engaging abutment for supporting the heel of a lasted shoe, a heelclamping member arranged for movement against the lift surface of the heel of a shoe supported o'n said abutment for clamping the shoe in the jack, forepart-supporting means yiel'dable to permit leveling of the shoe prior to the operation of the clamping member, locking means for saidVforepart-supporting means, and means for moving the clamping member into clamping engagement with the heel and for operating the locking means to clamp the shoe in the jack and to provide a rigid support for the forepart of the shoe.

38. In a shoe machine having a tool for operating on the heel of a shoe, a shoe-supporting jack comprising a heel-clamping plate arranged for movement against the lift surface of the heel of a shoe, a last-supporting abutment mounted for movement from a loading position clear of the clamping member to an operative position to bring the heel of a shoe supported thereon beneath the clamping plate,forepart-supporting means associated with the abutment and movable from a loading to a supporting position, connections between the abutment and the forepart-supporting means for moving the abutment to its operative position when the forepart-supporting means is moved to its supporting position said forepart-supporting means being yieldable to permit, leveling of the shoe after said movements, and means for moving the clamping p means into clamping engagement with the heel of the shoe and for locking the forepart-supporting means.

39. In a shoe machine having a tool for operating on the heel of a shoe, a shoe-supporting jack comprising a heel-clamping plate arranged for movement against the lift surface of the heel of aV shoe, a last-supporting abutment mounted for movement from a loading position clear of the clamping member to an operative position to bring the heel of a shoe supported thereon beneath the clamping plate, forepart-supporting means associated with the abutment and movable from a loading to a supporting position, connections between the abutmentl and the forepart-supporting means for moving the abutment to its operative position when the forepart-supporting means is moved to its supporting position, and means for moving the clamping means into clamping engagement with the heel of the shoe, said connections including a toggle which is straightened during movement of the forepart-supporting means to supporting position and a link between the toggle and the last-supporting abutment, the toggle being operative, when so straightened, rigidly to hold the forepart-supporting means against displacement and the link being operative to hold the toggle straightened when the clamping member is clamped against the heel of a shoe supported on the abutment.

40. In a shoe machine having a reciprocating breasting tool for operating on the heel of a shoe, a shoe-supporting jack comprising a heelclamping plate arranged for movement against the lift surface of the heel of a'shoe, a lastsupporting abutment mounted for movement from a loading position clear of the clamping member to an operative position to bring the heel of a shoe supported thereon beneath the clamping plate, forepart-supporting means associated with the abutment and movable from a loading to a supporting position, connections between the abutment and the forepart-supporting means for moving the abutment to its operative position when the forepart-supporting means is moved to its supporting position, said rempart-supporting means being yieldable to permit leveling of the shoe after said movements, and means for moving the clamping means into clamping engagement with the heel of the shoe and for locking the forepart-supporting means, said connections including a toggle which is straightened during movement of the forepart-supporting means to supporting position and a link between the toggle and the last-supporting abutment, the toggle being operative, when so straightened, rigidly to hold the forepart-supporting means against displacement and the link being operative to hold the toggle straightened when the clamping member is clamped against the heel of a shoe supported on the abutment.

41. In a heel-breasting machine having a reciprocating breasting tool for operating progressively across an attached heel from one side to the other, a shoe-supporting jack for holding a lasted shoe and for moving the heel of the shoe past the tool to breast the heel, said jack comprising a manually operated heel-clamping member for clamping the shoe in the jack during the action of the tool to breast the heel, and means for automatically releasing the shoe from the clamping member after completion of the breasting operation.

42. A shoe machine comprising a tool for operating on a shoe and a shoe-supporting jack for holding and moving a shoe to present it to said tool, said jack comprising a manually operated heel-clamping member for clamping the shoe in the jack during the action of said tool, means operated by movement of the jack for exerting additional clamping pressure prior to the action of the tool, means for locking the heel-clamping member during the action of the tool, and means for automatically releasing the member to free the shoe after the completion of the action of said tool.

43. In a heel-breasting machine having a tool for operating progressively across an attached heel from one side to the other, a movable shoesupporting jack for holding a lasted shoe and for moving the heel of the shoe past the tool tn breast the heel, said jack comprising a heelclamping member, manual means for initially clamping said member against the heel of a shoe in the jack, means operated by movement of the jack for exerting additional clamping pressure on the member prior to the action of the tool on the heel, means for locking the member during the action of the tool, and means for automatically releasing the member to free the heel after the completion of the breasting operation.

44. In a heel-breasting machine having a tool for operating progressively across an attached heel from one side to the other, a movable shoesupporting jack for holding a lasted shoe and for moving the heel of the shoe past the tool to breast the heel, said jack comprising a heelclamping member, forepart-supportng means yieldable to permit leveling of the shoe prior to the operation of the heel-clamping member, means for moving the heel-clamping member into heel-clamping position and at the same time locking the forepart-supporting means, means for holding the clamping member in clamping position during the action of the tool on the heel, and means for releasing the clamping member to free the heel and unlock the forepartsupporting means after the completion of the breasting operation.

45. In a heel-breasting machine having a tool for operating progressively across an attached heel from one side to the other, said tool being arranged for movement transversely of the direction of relative feeding movement between the tool and a heel during breasting to cut a breast surface that is curved lengthwise of the heel, means for supporting and moving a lasted shoe to feed its heel past the tool to breast the heel, said means comprising a jack having a heel-clamping member provided With cam means for eiecting said movement of the tool during the feeding of a heel past the tool, said clamping member being detachably and adjustably mounted on the jack so that it may be replaced by other clamping members having cam means adapted to cause the tool to cut breast surfaces of different curvatures and adjusted on the jack to vary the amount of material removed by the tool during the breasting operation.

46. A heel-breasting machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating breasting tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively, with a series of cuts, across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting a shoe to present its heel to the tool, While it is operating, for breasting the heel, said means comprising a jack movable to feed the heel of a shoe supported thereon past the tool, and means on the frame for engaging and stabilizing the jack during the action of the tool on the heel.

47. A heel-breasting machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating breasting tool arranged to cut heightwise of an attached heel and progressively, with a series of cuts, across the heel from one side to the other, means for supporting shoes to present their heels to the tool, While it is operating, for breasting the heels, said means comprising a plurality of jacks movable to feed the heels of shoes supported thereon successively past the tool, and means on the frame for engaging and stabilizing each jack during the action of the tool on the heel of the shoe supported thereby.

BERNARD T. LEVEQUE.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTTON. Patent No. 2,510,501. February 9, 19M'.

BERNARD T. LEVRQUE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 9, seolond column, line 29., for "'breat" read --breast; page lO, first column,

line 66, for "'breats" read --breast-; page l l2, fiISt C03-1mm', lines 5-6, strike out reciprocating breasting"'; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein -that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of April, A. l D. 19t@ Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner oi Patents. 

